If you are hiring an electrician to do some electrical work for you, find out how they bill. Many of them charge a fee to drive to your home, and then charge an hourly service fee even if the job only takes them a few minutes. If the job they are working on for you is an easy one, add some other work to their list of things to do to make use of the time you are paying for anyway.

Inspection

Ask the electrical contractor to inspect the electricity in your home to make sure everything is in good working order. This is especially true if you live in an older home that may have outdated wiring and amp services. Some things the electrical contractor will likely check include:

Make sure the electrical boxes, conduits, and wires are all securely affixed, and that there are no visible signs of deterioration or damage.

Check your main electrical panel. The contractor will make sure there is a main disconnect, which allows you to power off the electricity in your entire home with the flip of one switch. If not, then you have an older panel, and he or she will likely want to replace it.

Inspect each breaker in the electrical panel separately to make sure they are clearly labeled and that the wires are in good condition and secure.

Add a Dimmer Switch

The electrician can change out standard toggle light switches with dimmer switches. This allows you to adjust the light levels in a room. For example, you may want to dim the lights in your kitchen during the night. Using a light at a lower level uses less electricity so it can help you save money on your electrical bill, and your light bulbs will last longer.

Install Lighting under Cabinets

If you need more light in your kitchen, under cabinet lighting is a good way to get it. You can purchase simple lights that plug in, but an electrician can hardwire these lights for you so you will not have any visible electrical cords. You can choose a fluorescent light strip or an LED light strip.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

If you have an older thermostat in your home, you should upgrade to a programmable one. This can help you save money, as you can preset when your heating or cooling comes in, and the temperature it needs to be. For example, you may want to keep it off during the day while you are working, but have it come on an hour before you arrive home. You may want to turn it down at night while you are sleeping, and turn it on about an hour before you wake up.

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Do you have dimming lights in your home that really shouldn't be dimming? How about lights that only turn on sometimes when you flip the switch? Have you ever felt a little zap when you touch your electric stove with wet hands? Does your microwave seem to lose some of its power sometimes? These are all signs that there could be serious issues with your home electrical system. Visit my blog to learn some troubleshooting tests that you can run and learn when to contact your local electrician for professional inspections and repairs to your system before a fire starts or an electrocution occurs.